Bag-fastener



'(No ModeL) Y W. K. SMITH.

BAG 'FASTENER.

Patented Oct. 26, 1886.

N. PETERS, Phnm-Liihugmphcv. Washington. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

- WILLIAM K. SMITH, OF EATON RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

BAG-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 351,539, dated October26, 1886,

Application filel May 29, 1886. Serial No. 203.641. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, WILLIAM K. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Eaton Rapids, in the county of. Eaton and State ofMichigan,- have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Bag-Fasteners,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved bagfastener, or, in other words, adevice for fastening the mouths of bags; and it consists of the noveland improved construction hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Heretofore one of the expedients employed has been to fasten the mouthsof bags with cord,whioh is objectionable for the reason that it requiresconsiderable time and the fastening cannot be relied on for security.

It is the object of my invention to provide a cheap and simplebag-fastener, which can be quickly placed around the mouth of the bag,and which will be proof against unfastening.

I illustrate a bag-fastener embodying my improvements in theaccompanying drawings, in Which I Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bagwith one of my improved fasteners applied thereto. Fig. 2 is aperspective view of the fastener detached from the bag. I

Referring by letters to the drawings, A designates my improvedbagfastener. This fasteneris constructed from a single piece of wire,either brass, steel, or copper, and is curved or bent in the form of acircle, the meeting ends 12 b of which are bent inward, nearly at rightangles, to form the retaining or engaging points B and B, as shown.

The manner of securing a bag with my device is as follows: The top ofthe bag is closed in the usual manner, and held so with the left hand.Then,with the right hand, one of the retaining-points B or B is insertedin the folds of the bag at one side, and the device is then carriedaround the bag so as to tightly bind against its closed mouth, the otherfree end or point of the fastener being inserted or caught in the foldsof the bag. To draw the fastener tightly around the folds of the bag,any suitable tool may be employed. I have found an awl quite sufficientfor the purpose; but pinchers or like devices will also answer.

The many advantages of my fastener will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art.

The fastener can be quickly and conveniently employed to hold the mouthof the bag tightly closed, and when the bag is once fastened in placethere is no possibility of its becoming detached,- for in proportion tothe strain brought to bear on the fastener the tighter it grasps. Itwill also be observed that it presents a neat appearance, is strong anddurable, and can be manufactured and sold at a remarkably low price.

' Having thus described my invention, I claim As a new article ofmanufacture, the hereindescribed bag-fastener, constructed from a singlepiece of spring-Wire bent in the form of a ring, and provided withretaining-points at both ends of the wire, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM K. SMITH.

WVitnesses:

-FRED Z. HAMILTON, J. WALLIE CRAGG.

